Follow UsNot too long ago, Pakistan cricket was in turmoil after a crushing loss to England in the first Test in Multan. This loss led to widespread criticism of Shan Masood and his team, who were viewed as ‘pretty weak’ in international cricket. But since then, the turnaround has been anything but weak.
Pakistan have swapped flat batting-friendly tracks for more spin-friendly tough batting tracks, and the results are there for everyone to see, with three wins in their last three home Tests. After another impressive win against West Indies, Masood stated the change was for ‘bowlers to pick up 20 wickets’.
"We will do what we need to take 20 wickets and win the match," Masood said in the post-match press conference.
"We don't even play domestic cricket in these conditions. It's a new thing for us as well. We changed it during the England series because we wanted our team to win. We should appreciate the hard work of our bowlers, who got us 20 wickets consistently.”
Masood also said that gauging the batters purely on the metrics of centuries would do great injustice and added that they have sacrificed individual milestones for team results. Over the last three Tests, batters have hardly had the chance to score centuries and add more to their average.
"If you just look at hundreds and fifties and judge them by raw numbers, then it'll be misleading. Just like we'll have to be flexible with our playing style, viewers will also need to be flexible in their thinking. Look at India's blueprint and their averages at home and you'll get the point. If conditions are flat, getting 20 wickets is hard. We've sacrificed individual milestones for team results."
Furthermore, the Pakistan skipper insisted that the team would boldly change conditions at home according to the opponents' demands.
"A WTC is a two-year cycle, so fast bowlers will come into it. We have away series in England and the West Indies with the Dukes ball. When a subcontinent team comes here, we may prepare seam-friendly wickets. Over the bigger picture, no one's role is being diminished.
"If someone has to sacrifice there, like fast bowlers or batters, then so be it.”
Pakistan will next take on West Indies in the second Test on January 25 in Multan.